Scaffold Securing Device

ABSTRACT

A scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards. The device includes: first elongated arm member, an L-shaped second elongated arm member, a chain member, and an elongated connection member. The first elongated member includes two arm member end and an aperture. The L-shaped second elongated arm member is rotatably coupled to the first elongated arm member and includes: a pair of arm portions and an aperture. The elongated arm members are substantially flat. The chain member is coupled to the first elongated arm member. The elongated connection member, in the form of a swivel pin, connects the elongated arm members together by insertion through the apertures. The swivel pin includes an elongated body portion, a head portion, and an elongated lock portion. The second elongated arm member is rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of the first elongated arm member by hinging.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to scaffold securing devices, specificallya scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards.

2. Description of the Related Art

Scaffolds are normally comprised of a substantial number of woodenplanks, pipes, etc. Individuals typically employ scaffold securingdevices or the like to hold scaffolds in place, in order to avoidslippage or pilferage of the planks, as well as minimize the chances ofinjury when performing construction or maintenance type work. What isneeded is a device that enables a user to easily engage or disengage thedevice when desiring to disassemble the scaffolds when not in use. Someimprovements have been made in the field. Examples include but are notlimited to the references described below, which references areincorporated by reference herein:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,403, issued to Masino, discloses an adjustable stairstringer and railing construction assembly is disclosed. The assembly isadapted to use a pair of parallel stringer arms for each side of thestair, a riser/tred support bracket for each stair, and alignment andspacing elements for spacing the support brackets along the stringers.The brackets include formations for spacing the stringers with respectto each other and for spacing adjacent brackets along the stringers. Thebrackets are initially pivotally attached to each of the stringers so asto be rotatably movable about their pivotal attachment as the stringersare moved axially. Axial movement of the stringers with respect to eachother establishes the angle of rise of the stair. Treds and risers areattached to the brackets to form the stairs and railings are attachableto the stringer and bracket assembly to complete the construction.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,191, issued to Hess, discloses a panel clamp forpreventing warping of a panel formed from edge-glued boards duringgluing of said boards, including two-ended opposing jaw members formaintaining the boards in lateral registration, adjustment means at theend of each jaw member for adjusting the separation of the jaws andrelease means for quickly releasing and assembling the clamp.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,477, issued to Fears et al., discloses a scaffoldbracket is disclosed comprising a vertical beam of channelcross-section, a horizontal beam pivoted at its proximate end to a pointbetween the ends of the vertical beam and adapted to nest within itschannel cross-section, an angle bracket having a first and second end,the first end being connected to the proximate end of the vertical beamand the second end being connected to the middle of the horizontal beamwhereby the horizontal beam is rigidly supported in a positionsubstantially at right angles to the vertical beam, the vertical beamfurther having a hanger secured to its distal end, the hanger beingadapted to engage a generally horizontal portion of a wall whereby thehorizontal beam may be utilized to help support a scaffold along thewall.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,448, issued to Trainer, discloses a improvedscaffold clamps are described. These clamps provide a complete enclosuremeans for securing a plurality of planks in side-by-side relationship.The enclosure means bears a rigid working plate with a press screwextending longitudinally therethrough for exerting pressure against theedges of the enclosed planks. These clamps provide an improved means forstabilizing scaffold platforms.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,929, issued to Cyr, discloses a scaffold stabilizerfor use on a scaffold platform, consisting of a multiplicity oflongitudinal planks of uniform thickness assembled in side-by-sidecontact to form a supporting floor or platform for workers. Thestabilizer comprises a generally C-shaped unitary metallic clampingmember comprising upper and lower plate members rigidly connected to anend plate member, the upper and lower plate members being sufficientlylong and defining therebetween an opening sufficiently wide and long toreceive a multiplicity of flooring planks in close side-by-sideengagement. At least one of the plate members is bowed towards the otherso as to provide a tight frictional engagement with one surface of theplanks present therein. The upper and lower plate members are providedwith means for securing and tightening the ends thereof together at alocation adjacent the outermost plank contained within the clampingmember. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper plate member islonger than the lower plate member to provide a workpiece-supportingsurface when said clamping members are used in spaced pairs.

U.S. Design Pat. No.: D281,106, issued to Thomas et al., discloses theornamental design for a scaffold plank

The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantageswhich include: being inconvenient; being unsafe; having components thatcan easily be lost or misplaced; and/or being difficult to disassemblefrom scaffold boards.

What is needed is a scaffold securing device that solves one or more ofthe problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may cometo the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar withthis specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the presentstate of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems andneeds in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currentlyavailable scaffold securing devices. Accordingly, the present inventionhas been developed to provide a scaffold securing device for securingscaffold boards.

There is one embodiment of a scaffold securing device for securingscaffold boards that may include: a first elongated arm member that mayhave: a first arm member end; a second arm member end that may beopposite the first arm member end; and a first aperture that may bedisposed near the first arm member end; an L-shaped second elongated armmember that may be rotatably coupled to the second arm member end offirst elongated arm member and may include: a first arm portion that maybe coupled to the second arm member end and/or may extend outwardlytherefrom substantially orthogonal to the first elongated arm member; asecond arm portion that may be coupled to an end of the first armportion opposite the first elongated arm member and/or may extendoutwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first arm portionand substantially parallel to the first elongated arm member; and asecond aperture that may be disposed near an end of the second armmember opposite the first arm portion, and may be substantially alignedwith the first aperture.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device may furtherinclude: a chain member that may be coupled to the first elongated armmember; and an elongated connection member that may be coupled to an endof the chain member opposite the first elongated arm member that may beconfigured to connect the first elongated arm member to the L-shapedsecond elongated arm member by insertion through the first aperture andthe second aperture.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the elongated connectionmember may comprises a swivel pin, wherein the swivel pin may include:an elongated body portion that may have a body diameter sized smallerthan a diameter of the first aperture and a diameter of the secondaperture; a head portion that may be coupled to an end of the elongatedbody portion, and may have a head diameter sized larger than thediameter of the first aperture; and an elongated lock portion that maybe pivotally and slidably coupled to an end of the elongated bodyportion opposite the head portion; wherein in an insertion mode of theelongated lock portion may be disposed substantially parallel to theelongated body portion and in a locked mode the elongated lock portionis disposed substantially orthogonal to the elongated body portion.

In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, the firstelongated arm member and the second elongated arm member may besubstantially flat.

In still yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the secondelongated arm member may be rotatably coupled to the second arm memberend of the first elongated arm member by hinging.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present invention should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language,throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that theinvention can be practiced without one or more of the specific featuresor advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additionalfeatures and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments thatmay not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, ormay be learned by the practice of the invention as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, amore particular description of the invention briefly described abovewill be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not thereforeto be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a partially exploded perspective view of a scaffoldsecuring device, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevational view of a scaffold securingdevice, according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of a scaffold securing device,according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations andfurther modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andany additional applications of the principles of the invention asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, orcomponent parts of the same or different illustrated invention.Additionally, reference to the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, fortwo or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features arerelated, dissimilar, the same, etc. The use of the term “an embodiment,”or similar wording, is merely a convenient phrase to indicate optionalfeatures, which may or may not be part of the invention as claimed.

Each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent of anyother statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identicallanguage characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodimentis identified as “another embodiment,” the identified embodiment isindependent of any other embodiments characterized by the language“another embodiment.” The independent embodiments are considered to beable to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claimsand/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly orexplicitly.

Finally, the fact that the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, doesnot appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, suchas is the practice of some practitioners, is merely a convenience forthe reader's clarity. However, it is the intention of this applicationto incorporate by reference the phrasing “an embodiment,” and the like,at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible andappropriate.

As used herein, “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “is,” “are,”“characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive oropen-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements ormethod steps. “Comprising” is to be interpreted as including the morerestrictive terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”

Looking to the drawing figures, there is one embodiment of a scaffoldsecuring device 10 for securing scaffold boards 12 used supportindividuals engaging in building construction and maintenance typeactivities. The illustrated device includes: a substantially flat firstelongated arm member 14, such as, a steel or metal slab or plank,having: a first arm member end 16; a second arm member end 18 oppositethe first arm member end 16; and a first aperture 22 disposed near thefirst arm member end 16. There is also shown a substantially flatL-shaped second elongated arm member 24, made of similar materials asthe first elongated arm member 14, rotatably coupled to the second armmember end 18 of first elongated arm member 14, having: a first armportion 26 coupled to the second arm member end 18 and extendingoutwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first elongated armmember 14; a second arm portion 28 coupled to an end of the first armportion 26 opposite the first elongated arm member 14 and extendingoutwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first arm portion 26and substantially parallel to the first elongated arm member 14; and asecond aperture 30 disposed near an end of the second arm member 24opposite the first arm portion 26, and is substantially in juxtapositionwith the first aperture 22 when the elongated arm members 14, 24 areparallel to each other as shown in FIG. 1.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device 10 furtherincludes: a chain member 32 is fixedly coupled to the first elongatedarm member; and an elongated connection member 34 fixedly coupled to anend of the chain member 32 opposite the first elongated arm member 14and configured to connect the first elongated arm member 14 to theL-shaped second elongated arm member 24 by insertion through the firstaperture 22 and the second aperture 30. The structure of the elongatedarm members 14, 24 compliment each other, so as to receive and securescaffold boards therethrough. The chain member 18, in the form of achain, serves to retain the elongated connection member 34 to the device10, thereby preventing a user from losing or misplacing and an importantpiece needed for the device 10 to perform its intended function.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, theelongated connection member 34 comprises a swivel pin 36, that functionssimilar to a cuff link used for garments, having: an elongated bodyportion 38 that may have a body diameter sized smaller than a diameter42 of the apertures 22, 30 such that the body portion can be easilyinserted through the apertures; a head portion 44 that may be coupled toan end of the elongated body portion 38, and may have a head diameter 40sized larger than the diameter of the first aperture 22 so the firstelongated arm member 14 can not be involuntarily disengaged from thesecond elongated arm member 24 when securing scaffold boards 12; and anelongated lock portion 46 that may be pivotally and slidably coupled toan end of the elongated body portion 38 opposite the head portion 44,and configured to securely lock the elongated arm members 14, 24together. As shown in the figures, the elongated lock portion 46 has aninsertion mode 48, wherein the lock portion 46 is disposed substantiallyparallel to the elongated body portion 38, as shown in FIG. 3, and in alocked mode 50, wherein the elongated lock portion 46 is disposedsubstantially orthogonal to the elongated body portion 38, as shown inFIG. 2.

In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the secondelongated arm member 24 is rotatably coupled to the second arm memberend of the first elongated arm member 14 via a hinge 52, such as a steelhinges for hardware manufactured by Paneloc Corp, 142 Brickyard Road,Farmington, Conn. 06032 for example, making it convenient for a user toengage/(disengage) the device 10 to/(from) scaffold boards 12.

In still yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the secondelongated arm member 24 may be J-shaped such that a portion thereof maybe placed over the second first arm member end 18, wherein the scaffoldboards 12 are completely enclosed in between the arm members 14, 24 andsecured by a loop device.

In operation of the illustrated embodiment, a user may place the secondelongated arm member 24 underneath the scaffold boards 12 and rotate thefirst elongated arm member 24 about the hinge 52 until the arm members14, 24 are parallel to each other, wherein the apertures 22, 30 are injuxtaposition with each other, as shown in FIG. 1. The user can thenconveniently retrieve the elongated connection member 34 coupled to thefirst elongated arm member 14 and pivotally turn the lock portion 46 toplace the lock portion 46 in the insertion mode 48 and insert the pin 36through the apertures 22, 30 disposed in the elongated arm members 14,24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Afterwards, the user may place pivotallyturn the lock portion 46 substantially 90 degrees, wherein the lockportion 46 is orthogonal to the elongated body portion 38, so as to thelock portion 46 in the lock mode 48, as shown in FIG. 2, to secure thescaffold boards 12 between the arm members 14, 24.

A user desiring to disassemble the scaffold boards 12, the user mayconveniently place the lock portion 46 in the insertion mode 48, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The user may then grab the head portion 44 andupwardly pull the elongated connection member 34 out of the apertures22, 30. The user may then rotate the first elongated arm member 14 suchthat the elongated arm members 14, 24 are no longer parallel to eachother, enabling the user to remove the device 10 from the scaffolds.

Embodiments of the scaffold securing device 10 could be adapted for useon a multitude of scaffolding systems having traditional wooden planksor metal equivalents. The device also eliminates the need for a user tofrequently adjust boards, as well as prevents the formation ofpotentially dangerous holes in the scaffold 10 due to prolonged exposureto weather elements.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are onlyillustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Thedescribed embodiment is to be considered in all respects only asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,therefore, indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates the elongated arm members 14, 24 beingrectangular in shape, one skilled in the art would appreciate that thearm members may be shaped differently to conform to various shapes ofscaffold boards 10, according to various embodiments. For example,square, etc.

Additionally, although the FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a plurality ofscaffold boards 12 being secured by the device 10, one skilled in theart would appreciate that the device may be used to secure one entirescaffold board 12.

It is expected that there could be numerous variations of the design ofthis invention. An example is that the elongated arm members 14, 24; armmember ends 16, 18; apertures 22, 30; arm portions 26, 28; chain member32; elongated connection member 34; swivel pin 36; head portion 44;elongated lock portion 46 and/or hinge 52 may vary in length, width,size, diameter, shape, design, color, thickness, etc., according tovarious embodiments.

Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may beconstructed of a variety of materials, such as galvanized steel, metal,etc.

Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above withparticularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed tobe the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerousmodifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size,materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly anduse may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts ofthe invention as set forth in the claims.

1. A scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards, comprising: a) a first elongated arm member, including: a1) a first arm member end; a2) a second arm member end opposite the first arm member end; and a3) a first aperture, disposed near the first arm member end; b) an L-shaped second elongated arm member, rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of first elongated arm member, including: b1) a first arm portion, coupled to the second arm member end and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first elongated arm member; b2) a second arm portion, coupled to an end of the first arm portion opposite the first elongated arm member and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first arm portion and substantially parallel to the first elongated arm member; and b3) a second aperture disposed near an end of the second arm member opposite the first arm portion, substantially aligned with the first aperture; c) a chain member, coupled to the first elongated arm member; and d) an elongated connection member, coupled to an end of the chain member opposite the first elongated arm member, configured to connect the first elongated arm member to the L-shaped second elongated arm member by insertion through the first aperture and the second aperture.
 2. The scaffold securing device of claim 1, wherein the elongated connection member comprises a swivel pin including: a) an elongated body portion, having a body diameter sized smaller than a diameter of the first aperture and a diameter of the second aperture; b) a head portion, coupled to an end of the elongated body portion, having a head diameter sized larger than the diameter of the first aperture; and c) an elongated lock portion, pivotally and slidably coupled to an end of the elongated body portion opposite the head portion; wherein in an insertion mode the elongated lock portion is disposed substantially parallel to the elongated body portion and in a locked mode the elongated lock portion is disposed substantially orthogonal to the elongated body portion.
 3. The scaffold securing device of claim 2, wherein the first elongated arm member and the second elongated arm member are substantially flat
 4. The scaffold securing device of claim 3, wherein the second elongated arm member is rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of the first elongated arm member by hinging.
 5. A scaffold securing device for securing scaffold boards, consisting essentially of: a) a first elongated arm member, including: a1) a first arm member end; a2) a second arm member end opposite the first arm member end; and a3) a first aperture, disposed near the first arm member end; b) an L-shaped second elongated arm member, rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of first elongated arm member, including: b1) a first arm portion, coupled to the second arm member end and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first elongated arm member; b2) a second arm portion, coupled to an end of the first arm portion opposite the first elongated arm member and extending outwardly therefrom substantially orthogonal to the first arm portion and substantially parallel to the first elongated arm member; and b3) a second aperture disposed near an end of the second arm member opposite the first arm portion, substantially aligned with the first aperture; c) a chain member, coupled to the first elongated arm member; and d) an elongated connection member, coupled to an end of the chain member opposite the first elongated arm member, configured to connect the first elongated arm member to the L-shaped second elongated arm member by insertion through the first aperture and the second aperture.
 6. The scaffold securing device of claim 5, wherein the elongated connection member comprises a swivel pin including: a) an elongated body portion, having a body diameter sized smaller than a diameter of the first aperture and a diameter of the second aperture; b) a head portion, coupled to an end of the elongated body portion, having a head diameter sized larger than the diameter of the first aperture; and c) an elongated lock portion, pivotally and slidably coupled to an end of the elongated body portion opposite the head portion; wherein in an insertion mode the elongated lock portion is disposed substantially parallel to the elongated body portion and in a locked mode the elongated lock portion is disposed substantially orthogonal to the elongated body portion.
 7. The scaffold securing device of claim 6, wherein the first elongated arm member and the second elongated arm member are substantially flat
 8. The scaffold securing device of claim 7, wherein the second elongated arm member is rotatably coupled to the second arm member end of the first elongated arm member by hinging. 